The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 98

them enjoying life-shrinks from what needl~ssly entails or destroys it-thoughtless and needless infliction of suffering antl death on animals is a great sin in God's eye. 'l'he prophet is silenced now-he opens not his mouth. Tho narrative ends somewhat abruptly; but leaves two great truths full in view- the littleness of man; the greatness of God. 'fhe littleness even of a good man, one who in his deliberate judgment and inmost soul honoured God, and sought to serve him, but we.a very excite.hie, and coulrl not subdue the poor impulses of the lower part of his nature. The greatness of God, Lord of the earth and the sea, caring for h,s creatures, not willing that they shoultl perish, but that they should be saved. Especi- ally the greatnes~ of God in clemency, compassion, sparing mercy ; for the very .attributes that Jonah depreciated are as real as they are noble: " a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and re pen test thee of the eviL" This i • emphatically the gosvel aspect of God's character: "just, and the Jnstifier of him tha.; believeth in Jesus "-rich in mercy and great in love, sending his Son into the world, •• that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but should have everlasting life." Let us cherish the view of the Divine character that Jonah disparaged; it is the only hope for us sinners. And again let us remember how the men of Nineveh have not passed entirely off the scene, for, as our Lord said, "The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment against the men of this generation, and shall condemn them; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here."- W. G. B. Vers. 1-5.-Jonah's grief. There "sat" Jonah, watching, displeased with the Ninevites' preservation, grieved at the gentle dealings of their Preserver. And God•~ only rebuke of him was the gentle que~tion, "Doest thou well to be angry?" In liis mood and conduct let us read our own. I. Otra DISPLEASURE. Have we never been displeased with God's ways? It may have been as patriots. It is easy to be resigned to judgments that come upon our -country's enemies. We must beware-beware lest we encourage in ourselves the belief that the great work of God among nations to-day is to do all for the glory of England . .Jonah was displeased that his country's enemies should be spared. Yet God spared them. In our own personal history have we never been displeased with God ?-<iis- pleased that prosperity has been denied us, who could so wisely have used it? dis- pleased that losses and afflictions have impoverished us, when they seemed so much more nuded by, others who have been free from them? displeased to lose our one child, when in other homes the many are spared? displeased, it may be, that even the one has been denied us? Have we never charged God foolishly? II. OuB OlllEF, Jonah was "very grieved" that the Ninevites should be spared. Better, he deemed, that they should perish. Better for Israel thllS to be quit of aLL ,enemy. Better for God, as thus vindicating his righteousness. Better for Jonah himself --thus accredited t\S a prophet of truth. Grieved; but what is he doing with his memory? He, such a sinner against the light, had been spared; then why not these repentant heathen? Ungrateful Jonah! But why wonder at him? Have we not forgotten the Divine goodness? llave we not been grieved at God's dealings? Even in his work ho1,- -thwarted ! How little credit do we get to what we expected I And the work does nut; .prosper in our way. Have we never been grieved, angry, with God ?-that that great and good man should be taken away in the midst of his days? that that youth nf high promise should be cut down when the bright bud was just showing the brilliant flower? that God's work, where most successful, should be threatened with hindrauce and be hindered? that our work for him should be obstructed, and we get so little comxnendation for it whf\n we had deemed we deserved it so much? Grieved-anci therein the evil-by regarding God as at fault. III. Otra WAYWARD PllAYER. Jonah longed to die. His work seemed to fail because Nineveh was spared. Fail? No; it was a transcendently glorious success. A sub- lime and ever-memorable proof of the Divine mercy. An libiding encouragement to all coming workers for God. So our work, when we count it a failure, may in Goo.'., ,eyes b;, " not in vain." How we bear ourselves in sev,ire trials of faith will show what; spirit and character we are l,f. Let no wayward prayer be ours. In our peevishness ancl -distrust and vexation Goll says, •· Doetit thou wdl to be angry? • He is ever right. 96 TIIE BOOK OF JON A.H. [cu. 1v. 1-11.